I have a friend or two who give at a significant level. I get some info from them. The new strategy I hear is to try to cultivate new high level donors. That is great but something we have never done well is mid level donors. I've never understood why we haven't made a big push at that level (1500 to 5k a year). Those are the people that may eventually get to a 10k a year person. You get 20 of those in 5 years at 10k and that is a big boon. I'm getting close (within 10 years) were I am going to have a significant level of yearly disposable income. When I'm 50 both my kids should be out of college (1st kid at 25). My wife and I travel a bit and have a nice middle middle class life. Other than helping the kids get started or some other devastating life event I could go 10k for years at that time and not have it greatly impact my life. I have a lot of buddies who went to USM who will be in a similar position. I get zero out reach from the athletic department because I'm not important today. If I was AD I'd get a list of graduates from say 96 to 06. I'd send them a set of free tickets every few years (even if they are already involved). I'd have a tent setup for them, I'd treat them great. You might get a few to come back and give, and that is great for everyone. I'd sit down and at the beginning of every season I'd send out a facebook twitter etc message about that sports team expectations and I wouldnt be fluff about it. If we were last I'd say we are trying to get to mid level in 3 years and compete for championships in 5 (adjust for actual expectations).
Once I hit those guys I am going after every little guy out there I can. Give 25 you get an EC hat pin. 50 you get a EC hat. 100 for apull over. Make those guys feel special and emphasize how freaking important they are. Promote USM as the great thing it is in our region. I'd have at least one billboard in Memphis MoBile Lafayette oxford Baton Rogue Tuscaloosa auburn and I'd put something like "Eagles we need you for the Sugar Bowl in 2020" and then the number to the ticket office. And if/when our guys/gals call I'd tell them what the fuck our expectations are (to ride this shitty conference like a bitch and get to a New Years Day Bowl and then skip the hell out of town).
But Cyc we po (can't even afford the or) and have limits. Alright those tickets I mentioned earlier are already printed and we can't afford postage so you social media the hell out of it. Here let me help you. Facebook twitter etc. USM alumni who graduated in the fall of 96 give the ticket office a call and get a free pair of tickets and a trip to our athletics tent. And I'd put that damn thing right in the middle of the best tailgating area. I'd use these tickets to fill in the bottom and top middle sections of the stadium not the shitty ends. Give those to the kids (and by no means am I dissing the kids who could come here but this is about money). I'd give the students two sections all their own and encourage the future alumni to come up with great new traditions. I could see a row of kids dressed as mustard buzzards (turn a slight into a strength) have another kid with a flag (make a new flag each year) etc.
Innovation, ideas, and in most cases out reach can be free. We don't do any of it. We don't have much if any out reach. Our athletic administration is fat and lazy. I'd be on social media everyday. I'd highlight USM and our tradition everyday on social media and if I didn't have an athletic fact I'd throw out a fact about USM in general to keep people up to date. We got a lot to be proud of and we've been through worse but we sure as hell don't act like we've climbed those mountains before.
Last edited by Cyc46 (2017-09-06 06:42:43)